Espanyol and Real Betis fought out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, a result that does little to ease Espanyol’s relegation fears and marginally dents Real Betis’s European ambitions in La Liga. The match saw Espanyol twice take the lead, only for Betis to level on both occasions. Javier Puado opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a clinical finish, sending the home fans into raptures. However, their joy was short-lived as Ayoze Pérez capitalized on hesitant defending to equalize eight minutes later. Puado struck again in the 61st minute with a stunning effort, seemingly putting Espanyol on course for a vital win. But Betis refused to give up, and William Carvalho headed in from a corner in the 82nd minute to secure a point for the visitors. The draw leaves Espanyol 19th in La Liga, three points from safety with only a handful of games remaining, making their survival chances increasingly slim. Real Betis remain sixth but are now level on points with Real Sociedad and Villarreal, heightening the competition for European qualification. The match highlighted Espanyol’s fighting spirit and defensive vulnerabilities, while Betis showed their resilience and ability to respond to adversity. Puado’s impressive form was a key talking point, as was Betis’s effective set-piece delivery, which led to their equalizer. The result is a significant blow to Espanyol’s relegation hopes, and they face a tough run-in. For Betis, the draw is a missed opportunity to strengthen their European aspirations, and they will need to be more consistent in their remaining matches to secure a coveted continental spot.